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Palestine Wissam Photo: Nassar/NRC FACT SHEET May 2021 NRC’s operations in Palestine Wissam Photo: Nassar/NRC Humanitarian overview NRC’s operation A protracted protection crisis continues in Palestine, We ensure that Palestinians affected by, or threatened directly linked to the occupation. Political agreement with, displacement in Gaza and the West Bank, including between Palestinian factions in West Bank and Gaza, and East Jerusalem, have access to assistance. the threat of annexation of parts of the West Bank con- tinue to be a concern in 2021, in violation of international We provide legal counselling to promote human rights law. This impacts the humanitarian situation of Pales- and work to improve shelter, water and sanitation facili- tinians, as well as their basic human rights. In the West ties. We support the provision of quality education, and Bank and East Jerusalem, policies and practices aimed at help communities prepare for, and respond to, emergen- accelerating the forcible transfer of Palestinians were on cies. We support the coping capacities of people severely the rise in 2020. affected by the economic crisis. The siege in Gaza continues to be a form of collective We also advocate for the rights of displaced Palestinians punishment. Palestinians in Gaza are already living with locally and internationally. limited access to electricity, drinking water and health- care. Covid-19 restrictions have decreased access to clean water and sanitation for almost a million people. Twenty per cent of communities in Gaza are socioeconomically vulnerable, living in substandard or overcrowded hous- ing and lacking access to acceptable public services. Ourr assessments also show 60-80 per cent unemployment rates, while many have limited access, or no rights, to social safety nets. The escalation of hostilities in Gaza in May 2021 left 232 Palestinians, including 65 children and NRC Palestine 12 Israelis, including two children, dead. The massive Established 2009 psychological and material damage will take many years International staff 9 to address. The total number of people in need across National staff 99 Palestine is expected to increase in 2021. www.nrc.no NRC Palestine Country and field offices Jerusalem, Hebron, and Gaza Areas of operation West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza NRC Palestine Fax: +972 2 6275543 Country director: Caroline Ort www.nrc.no/palestine Email: [email protected] Address: Norwegian Refugee Council Phone: +972 2 6261168 24 Othman Ibn Afan Street, Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem Camp management • training teachers on effective classroom manage- We provide internally displaced people and vulnerable ment strategies communities with access to protection and essential • training counsellors to support students suffering services in Gaza. Our team works to: from nightmares • assisting teachers and school staff in developing • include internally displaced people and vulnerable child-centred teaching and learning approaches communities in decision making processes • supporting parents and school communities in es- • increase the emergency preparedness and response tablishing parent associations capacities of local authorities, humanitarian re- • in collaboration with our ICLA team, providing infor- sponders, and communities mation to students, parents and teachers about their • improve coordination between communities and rights and referral mechanisms for further support humanitarian organisations • providing emergency resources for vulnerable • enhance the effectiveness, transparency and ac- schools to enhance teaching and learning, as well as countability of humanitarian work protect against attacks on education • provide multi-purpose cash to vulnerable house- holds affected by the economic crisis Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA) We work to protect people and communities who have Education been, or are at risk of being, forced to leave their homes. Many children in Palestine have seen or experienced We provide legal information, training, counselling and traumatic events and subsequently suffer from night- assistance for those affected by discriminatory policies mares, which affect their ability to learn and thrive. We and practices. We: work to ensure that Palestinian children have access to quality education and psycho-educational support by: • work closely with national and international stake- www.nrc.no holders to influence positive policy change • provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, • provide legal services that protect people from dem- including bathrooms, toilets, sinks and water network olition, eviction and confiscation orders, revocation supplies to vulnerable households of residency rights, access restrictions, and settler • improve peoples’ access to public services and mitigate violence in the West Bank against winter flooding through community infrastruc- • provide Palestinians in Gaza with information about ture projects housing, land and property rights to promote tenure • respond to flood emergencies security • distribute hygiene items to vulnerable households, and • work with Israeli and Palestinian NGOs and private provide training to improve social and environmental lawyers to provide effective counselling and legal health assistance Policy, protection and research Shelter We provide protection and policy analysis to a range of We provide access to adequate shelter for the most vul- actors in Palestine, promoting principled humanitari- nerable people in Gaza. Our teams: an assistance in accordance with international law. We engage closely with international decision-makers and • provide shelter for households living in war-dam- advocate for the protection of displaced and vulnerable aged and substandard homes peoples’ human rights. • provide support and technical assistance to people whose homes have been damaged through conflict Cluster and other coordination support to ensure that families have adequate shelter We play an important role in humanitarian coordination in • distribute essential household materials, including Palestine by leading the Shelter Cluster, hosting the Associa- mattresses and blankets tion for International Development Agencies (AIDA), leading • support families affected by the economic crisis with the Legal Task Force and managing the West Bank Protec- rental assistance to prevent eviction tion Consortium as well as the Gaza Protection Consortium. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) promotion We help vulnerable communities access safe, sufficient, and affordable hygiene and water facilities in Gaza. Our teams: NRC Palestine is grateful for the generous support from our donors: Government of Spain Government of France Government of Belgium Stiftelsen Signe Marie www.nrc.no.
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